Welcome to StewardShip

Your free trial and membership will be finalized when you check out.

*Bordeaux Futures, Wine Clubs and Corporate Gifts are not eligible. Applies to standard shipping, which is quite speedy! Expedited shipping available at discounted rates for StewardShip members.Learn More

Winemaker's Notes

The nose is fresh and lifted, full of violets and blackcurrants mixing with leafy aromatics and violets. The oak supplies a touch of cedar adding complexity with the typical soulful earthiness of d'Arenberg reds. The palate is textured and lithe, coated by lacy tannins with a core of cassis, licorice and plum fruit mixed with earth, graphite and a mineral tail. It's well weighted, fresh and balanced, inviting now or will reward the patient.

Critical Acclaim

JH93

Australian Wine Companion - "Full purple-crimson; lush blackcurrant on the bouquet and palate is the mainstay of an attractive medium-bodied wine, integrated oak and ripe tannins partners in crime. A drink today or in 10 years style, a regional dark chocolate nuance on the farewell."

ST90

International Wine Cellar - "Glass-staining ruby. Aromas of cherry compote, boysenberry and pipe tobacco, with subtle smoke and cracked pepper accents. Lush and creamy in texture, offering hefty dark fruit flavors that are sharpened by a spicy nuance. Finishes smooth and long, with soft tannins adding gentle grip. This wine drinks very well now after a brief decanting."

W&S90

Wine & Spirits - "An intense, floral cabernet with red fruit ripeness, this wine balances the powerful grip of tannins with vibrant, juicy richness. It's young and sleek, likely to grow more savory as it ages."

d'Arenberg Winery

One of the undisputed kings of Australian Shiraz and Rhone varietals, d'Arenberg has managed to turn individuality into an art form by doing a whole lot of little things differently. The original vineyards were established by Joseph Osborn in 1912 in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. A century on, the estate has grown to 345 acres, and the mantle now rests with fourth-generation winemaker, Chester Osborn. By maintaining a focus on traditional winemaking and nurturing their old-vine material, the Osborn clan has successfully established themselves as one of the country's leading producers of concentrated wines that are full of character.
View all d'Arenberg Wines

About McLaren Vale

McLaren Vale is home to the oldest Australian vineyard, with grapes planted in 1838. It's a coastal area, the Indian Ocean bordering the west, which leads to a cooling factor that prevents the grapes from getting too hot. In all, the climate is a perfect one for the vines.

Notable Facts

In McLaren Vale, there are vines as far as the eye can see. As in other parts of Australia, Shiraz and Grenache are the top grapes of the region, with some Cabernet Sauvignon planted as well. While red rules, whites are able to hold their own here too. With the warm yet reasonable Mediterranean climate, white grapes like Chardonnay, Semillon and even some Sauvignon Blanc grow well. The wines are round and smooth and the producers in the regions are excellent.

About Australia

Like the United States, which is about the same size, Australia's winemaking regions are huddled into one or two pockets of the country. The state of South Australia, which produces about 60% of the country's wine, also has the most wineries and sub-regions, including McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and Barossa Valley. New South Wales is home to the Hunter Valley, while the smaller, southern state of
Victoria is best known for theYarra Valley. Head way west to the very large state of Western Australia and you'll find the tiny region of Margaret River at the southern tip.

8 ratings, 5 with reviews

Diasppointing.Good nose, bad color, no nuance, thin & tastseless. Not a 93--maybe an 80. Thought 2nd glass would be better but no improvement with airing. poued out half a bottle. Could I have gotten a bad bottle?

Nice ruby colored. It smells like blackberry, plum and black pepper. It tastes like strawberry, blackberry and dust. Medium body and smooth with medium finish. Decanted 20 mins: still a little hot and strong on the pepper aroma. Decanted 60 mins: heat resolved more fruit flavor. The sweat spot relative to decanting. Started to loose complexity with second glass after the 1 hour decant.

The nose sings with typical Cabernet characters of cassis, dark plums, blueberries, mint and bell peppers. Youthful and fresh the
palate has a lovely leafy berry core than runs the whole way through to a lovely finish of fine mineral ...

A ruby red, deep colored wine. On the nose its an elegant, complex and intense wine with violets and red
fruits evocations of blackberry, chocolate, black pepper and cigar box aromas while its affinity with oak lends vanilla and coffee ...

The nose is fresh and lifted, full of violets and blackcurrants mixing with leafy aromatics and violets. The oak supplies
a touch of cedar adding complexity with the typical soulful earthiness of d'Arenberg reds. The palate is textured and lithe, ...

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Fruity

Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.

Smooth & Supple

Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.